Rick Hutzell has been named editor of Capital Gazette Communications, succeeding Steve Gunn, who has led the company's publications since 2013.

Publisher Tim Thomas announced the news Thursday and the change was effective immediately.

"I'd like to say thank you to Tim for his confidence in giving me this job and for Steve in his role for leading us through a period of transition," Hutzell said during the newsroom meeting. "And you all, the hard work you all do and have done over the last year.

"The paper is better than it has ever been in my almost 30 years here and my job is to keep things running smoothly during the transition."

Hutzell has worked in Capital Gazette Communications for 28 years and was assistant editor before the promotion, overseeing the Maryland Gazette, the Crofton-West County Gazette and the Bowie Blade-News, as well as government reporting.

He is married to Chara Hutzell and father to Lily, 19, and Evan, 17. He began his journalism career at his hometown newspaper in Ocean City.

The county has been his home over the last 28 years and he looked forward to using his knowledge of the Anne Arundel's people, politics, economy and history in the company's leadership position.

He has served on the board of the Chesapeake Arts Center, the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and the West County Chamber of Commerce.

"It was never my goal to be the editor," Hutzell said. "Just to be a journalist in my hometown."

Thomas, who was named publisher in 2014, said he has had the pleasure of working with Rick over the past year and have found him to be a talented journalist and leader.

"I am confident that his diverse experience, his deep ties to the local community and his strong editorial background will enrich our powerful Anne Arundel County coverage and will enhance our print and digital portfolio."

Gunn plans to stay with the paper until May 29. He is leaving Capital Gazette Communications to lead The Virginian-Pilot as editor.

"It was a hard decision," Gunn said. "I'm going to miss my colleagues and all the people of Anne Arundel County, who have been so supportive of the paper.

"With Rick's leadership, I'm sure the paper will continue to do well."

Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch, D-Annapolis, who is an avid reader of the paper, spoke highly of both Gunn and Hutzell.

"I think Steve Gunn did a nice job ... someone who became an integral part of the community," Busch said. "He made himself accessible to everyone and he got a broad grasp of the community in a very short time.

"Rick Hutzell is an excellent choice for a replacement. He has a good understanding and grasp of the needs of the community."

Hutzell said he never imagined himself as leader of the paper. When he was hired in 1987, he remembers telling his editor, Tom Marquardt, that he planned to work for two years and then find a job with the Associated Press.

Marquardt worked for Capital Gazette Communications for 35 years, retiring as publisher and editor in 2012.

Marquardt recalled that conversation and said that many reporters used papers like The Capital — with its close proximity to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. — as steppingstones for their career.

He remembered Hutzell as having "news in his blood." And since he stuck around instead of getting a job with the AP, his time in the arena will benefit the paper's coverage, Marquardt said.

"There is something to be said of perseverance," Marquardt said. "The Capital is lucky to have somebody there with roots as deep as Rick's.

"Those roots will parlay into excellent coverage of the community."

Hutzell's promotion doesn't come with any immediate plans to change staff. He did say newsroom leadership could use more diversity and was "certainly a concern."

"Diversity in newsroom leadership is an important goal for this paper," he said.